Tschudi's colilargo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tschudi's colilargo |
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| Conservation status | |
Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Rodentia |
| Family: | Cricetidae |
| Genus: | Oligoryzomys |
| Species: |
O. destructor
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| Binomial name | |
| Oligoryzomys destructor (Tschudi, 1844)
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| Synonyms | |
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The Tschudi's colilargo, also called the destructive pygmy rice rat, is a small rodent. Its scientific name is Oligoryzomys destructor. This little animal belongs to the Oligoryzomys group in the Cricetidae family.
You can find this rice rat living in the eastern Andes mountains. Its home stretches from southern Colombia down through Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. It even lives in northern Argentina.
Contents
What Does It Look Like?
The Tschudi's colilargo is a small type of rice rat. Its head is a reddish-brown color. It has many blackish hairs mixed in. Right behind its ears, you might see lighter patches of fur.
Ears and Whiskers
The inside of its ears have short, light brown hairs. The outside of its ears have longer, blackish hairs. Its whiskers are black with white tips. The hairs at the very end of its nose are white.
Body and Tail
The fur on its back is reddish-brown. Black hairs are mixed in, along with a few gray hairs that have light tips. The sides of its body are reddish-brown. Its throat and chest are light gray. The belly is a yellowish-white color. The tail is brown and a bit shorter than its head and body combined.
Feet
The top of its back feet have short, silvery hairs. The hairs next to its nails are extra long. The bottom of its feet are light brown.
Where Does It Live?
The Tschudi's colilargo lives on the eastern slopes of the Andes mountains in South America. It can be found at many different heights. It lives from about 600 meters (2,000 feet) up to 3,350 meters (11,000 feet) above sea level.
Its Home Range
Its home area goes from southern Colombia and Ecuador. It then stretches into Peru, Bolivia, and the northwestern part of Argentina.
Favorite Places to Live
This rat likes to live in tropical and subtropical forests. It also lives in mountain forests. In Bolivia, it is often found in a special forest area called the Yungas. This is a type of forest that is in between different climate zones.
Is It Safe?
The Tschudi's colilargo lives in a very wide area. We don't know exactly how many there are, but it is common in many places. This means there are probably a lot of them in total.
Conservation Status
Scientists have not found any big dangers to this animal. Because of its wide range and large numbers, the International Union for Conservation of Nature says it is a "least concern" species. This means it is not currently at risk of disappearing.
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
